Peter N. Efande
6 November 2009
Overloading, acts of vandalism, encroachment and accidents have been identified as some negative factors responsible for the rapid deterioration of our road network.
During a training workshop for "road protection staff on oath" held in Limbe on Friday for the staff of the Ministry of Public Works; participants were unanimous that this unenviable situation has left government with no option but to take measures to redress the trend.
In a keynote address, the Senior Divisional Officer for Fako Jules Macrcellin Ndjaga warned of severe sanctions as enshrined in Article 17 and 18 of Law No 96/07 of April 8, 1996 on those who voluntarily destroy our roads. Within the premise of government's determination to monitor and sanction offences of road misuse, certain personnel of the Ministry of Public Works in 2008 took oath which confers upon them the status and competence of Judicial Police Officers with special competence as auxiliaries of State Counsel.
Through this act of legality, the SDO said, "the Ministry of Public Works is taking concrete steps to protect our national patrimony through a strategy centered on responsiblilizing road users and actors in the road sector." Specific measures to safeguard our roads such as weighing stations throughout the national road network, rain gates, road blocks, education of road users, beneficiaries and those living along the road; are in vogue.
Despite these measures, road misuse still remains a disturbing phenomenon with man-made activities resulting to the partial or total destruction of roads. What should therefore be done? Legal experts, the forces of law and order, and Public Works officials exchanged views and got better sensitization during the one-day training workshop on how best to safeguard our roads.
Talking to CT, Mr. Tanyi Tanyi Willington, and South West Regional Chief of Service for Roads noted that the workshop was an awareness initiative aimed at curbing road abuse. Quoting the Law, he said sanctions range from CFA 50.000 to CFA 250.000
After Yaounde, Mbalmayo and Bafoussam; the city of Limbe is the fourth lapse in a road protection training workshop whose logo "The road, our common heritage. Let us protect it" should not be a wasteful exercise. Participants affirmed that things will never be the same again.
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